GRADO aims to make it big in the Far East — after being signed up for a top Japanese gig. The telly grappler will take on the Hulk Hogan of Japan in a live bout with major names from the Land of the Rising Sun. 4 Grado joined by Taishi Ozawa to promote Pro Wrestling Noah coming to Scotland.
Credit: Andrew Barr 4 Ring announcer G-Man gives Grado a preview of his entrance. Credit: Andrew Barr 4 The wrestler is ready to rumble. Credit: Andrew Barr 4 Viewers loved the entertainer in Two Doors Down.
Credit: BBC And the former Two Doors Down star, 36, hopes his match involving ring legend Naomichi Marufuji will lead to more foreign fun if he impresses. Grado, real name Graeme Stevely, from Stevenston, Ayrshire, said: “I’m wrestling daft and so Pro Wrestling Noah reached out and asked me if I’d be on their show. “Never in a million years did I think I’d wrestle for a company in Japan .
I really can’t wait because I’m going to be working with Japanese wrestlers that can’t walk down the street without being stopped. “These guys over there are as big as football players and movie stars in the UK and they’re coming to Edinburgh and I’ve just got to try to impress them. READ MORE IN SHOWBIZ 'NAILED IT' Ally McCoist ribbed by Grado as he mocks legend's viral air guitar routine FIRE FRIGHT Two Doors Down star's dad caught up in fire chaos after explosions at factory “Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got a great career here in Scotland with the radio and the telly and the sitcoms and stuff like that.
But if Japan wants me to move over with my wee bodyguard the Bichon Frise we’ll be there in half an hour. “I’ve never been to Japan. I’ve never wrestled in Japan, so this kind of feels as if I’m ticking off a wee box.
” The Go Radio presenter hasn’t wrestled as much as he’d like to in recent years due to his showbiz success. It was recently revealed that Two Doors Down wasn’t coming back after the tragic death of co-creator Simon Carlyle aged 48 last year. Most read in Showbiz so long Rock star quits huge noughties band to concentrate on surprise career RITA PHWOARA Rita Ora shows off her figure in thong bikini as she holidays with pals CLOSED OFF BBC stars told ‘DON’T contact Jermaine Jenas’ as probe ‘shrouded in secrecy’ THE GONE SHOW Jermaine Jenas probe prompted other women to come forward with complaints Along with his role in mockumentary Scot Squad, it was the biggest TV job that Grado’s ever had.
After his mentor’s passing, the grappler paid tribute online : “An absolute comedy genius, and that’s why - other than a live show in tribute which there should be - there won’t be another Two Doors Down.” But Grado has remained on BBC screens in Scotland’s Greatest Escape - a programme that sees the grappler and expert judges discover amazing getaways. Grado does hilarious impression of Ally McCoist and channels Scotland cult song Now the TV ace is planning for more regular wrestling in his future after falling back in love with it.
Speaking from The Asylum, the training school of Scottish wrestling firm Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW), he squared up to Japanese wrestler Taishi Ozawa, 27, who will appear on the same event next month. Grado said: “It’s going to be hard going because I’ve got Scotland’s Greatest Escape which is on its third series which I’m going to be doing with Judith Ralston. I do a breakfast radio show at Go Radio.
“In between that I’ve got shows at ICW which take place at the Asylum. I’ve got a big match on September 1. I’ve also got stuff on down south this weekend in London.
“I’ve got a one-man-show. I’m wrestling once on Friday and twice on Saturday so it’s a big big couple of weeks but this is what gets you going. “I always say I can be on a TV set with comedy legends or I could be anywhere on the stage at pantomime, but nothing feels more like home than inside this ring.
“I’ve missed the wrestling. The only thing I don’t miss is the time I take in between matches, that annoys me because it used to be full pelt. I had the visa in America where I’d wrestle twice a month so when I’d get in the ring I would never blow up.
“Now because I take that much time in between matches I come in here and my farter collapses after two seconds.” Japanese wrestling is typically more physical than the UK style and so Grado knows he has to spend the next few weeks getting into top shape for his tussle. He added: “It’s a very strong style.
It’s not like here where I can get away with poking the eyes and stamping the toes. The wrestlers that I’m in the ring with that night are very serious. There’s messing about so for me it’s a big culture change.
“I’m teaming with a guy called Marafuji who is like the Hulk Hogan of Japan. He is absolutely massive. At the end of the day he’s coming in the ring with one of the biggest Scottish wrestlers so it’ll be interesting.
“I’m not going to mention the name of the app but there’s a certain app which delivers food to your door without having to save the embarrassment of your order on the phone. Read more on the Scottish Sun MORAY MANIA Cops called amid huge queues as fizzy drink re-launch causes chaos MURRAY MAKEOVER Andy Murray hit with fresh warning over renovations at luxury Cromlix hotel “I need to delete that ASAP. The other wrestlers don’t care about me.
I’ve been in the ring before where I’ve told people they better watch my face but the Japanese guys aren’t going to take to that, they’ll be going for it full force.” Pro Wrestling NOAH takes place on September 6 at Edinburgh’s O2 Academy Edinburgh.
